Weeding tool for mounting on fingers of user's hand

Abstract

A weeding tool for mounting on the index and middle fingers of the user's hand. The tool comprises an elongated flexible band which is adjustable to form a loop of the size to encircle the first phalanges of the index and middle fingers of the user's hand, and a rigid probe mounted on a pad portion of the band to extend in a direction generally perpendicular to the plane of the loop formed by the band. A positioning rib is mounted on the pad portion to extend between the index and middle fingers of the user's hand and the probe is arranged to extend from the band and underlie the index finger on the hand for manipulation by the index finger or by the index finger and thumb.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows: 
     
       1. A weeding tool for mounting on the index and middle fingers of a user's hand comprising, an elongated flexible band having means for adjustably interconnecting its end portions to form a loop of a size adapted to encircle the first phalanges of the index and middle fingers of a user's hand, the band having a generally flat pad defining a plane, said pad being constructed of resilient flexible material with inner and outer side faces lying parallel to the plane of said pad, the pad having a first pad portion adapted to underlie the first phalanges of the index and middle fingers at their articulation with the metacarpal bones of the hand, the pad being substantially wider than the band and having a second pad portion extending laterally from one edge of the band a substantial distance so as to be adapted to underlie a portion of the user's palm under the knuckles of the user's hand, and an elongated rigid probe secured at one end to the second pad portion of the pad, the probe extending from said one end through the first pad portion intermediate its inner and outer side faces and forwardly a substantial distance from the first pad portion substantially in the plane of the pad and in a direction generally perpendicular to the lengthwise dimension of the band so as to be adapted to underlie and project beyond the tip of the index finger on the user's hand. 
     
     
       2. A weeding tool according to claim 1 including a band positioning rib on the inner side of the first pad portion disposed generally perpendicular thereto and crosswise of the lengthwise dimension of the band to project between the index and middle fingers on the user's hand. 
     
     
       3. A weeding tool according to claim 2 wherein the probe extends through the first pad portion at the location of the band positioning rib on the first pad portion. 
     
     
       4. A weeding tool for mounting on the index and middle fingers of a user's hand comprising, an elongated flexible band having means for adjustably interconnecting its end portions to form a loop of a size adapted to encircle the first phalanges of the index and middle fingers of the user's hand, the band having a generally flat pad portion with inner and outer side faces, the inner side face being adapted to underlie the first phalanges of the index and middle fingers at their articulation with the metacarpal bones of the hand, and an elongated rigid probe attached at one end to the pad portion of the band and extending forwardly from the pad portion substantially in the plane of the pad portion and in a direction generally perpendicular to the lengthwise dimension of the band so at to be adapted to underlie the tip of the index finger on the user's hand, the probe comprising an elongated wire rod having transverse portion at one end of the wire rod, the pad portion having a passage intermediate the inner and outer side faces thereof extending transverse to the plane of the loop formed by the band and dimensioned to allow axial insertion of said wire rod therethrough, the pad portion having a transverse recess in one of said faces intersecting said passage for receiving said transverse portion of the wire rod to hold the wire rod against axial movement in the passage. 
     
     
       5. A weeding tool according to claim 4 wherein said passage is at the location of said band positioning rib on the pad portion, said transverse recess in the pad portion and said transverse portion on the rod being constructed and arranged to interfit in a first rod position and in a second rod position in which the rod is turned about its lengthwise axis 180° from said first rod position, and said wire rod is angulated at a location outwardly of said passage in the pad portion to extend at a shallow acute angle to said passage. 
     
     
       6. A weeding tool according to claim 5 wherein said pad portion is wider than the remainder of the band and projects from the band in a direction opposite the probe. 
     
     
       7. A weeding tool according to claim 6 wherein said pad portion is formed integrally with said band intermediate the ends thereof. 
     
     
       8. A weeding tool for mounting on the index and middle fingers of a user's hand comprising, an elongated flexible band having means for adjustably interconnecting its end portions to form a loop of a size adapted to encircle the first phalanges of the index and middle fingers of a user's hand, an elongated wire rod having a transversely extending portion at one end, the band having a pad portion with inner and outer side faces and a passage intermediate the inner and outer side faces extending transverse to the lengthwise dimension of the band and dimensioned to allow axial insertion of the rod therethrough, the pad portion having a recess in one of said side faces intersecting said passage for receiving said transverse portion on the rod to hold the rod against axial movement in the passage, the rod extending from the pad portion in a direction generally parallel to the said side faces and transverse to the lengthwise dimension of the band. 
     
     
       9. A weeding tool according to claim 8 wherein said transverse recess in the pad portion and said transverse portion on the rod are constructed and arranged to interfit in a first rod position and in a second rod position in which the rod is turned about its lengthwise axis 180° from said first rod position, and said wire rod is angulated at a location outwardly of said passage in the pad portion to extend at a shallow acute angle to said passage. 
     
     
       10. A weeding tool according to claim 9 wherein said pad portion is wider than the band and projects laterally from the band in a direction opposite the probe. 
     
     
       11. A weeding tool according to claim 10 wherein said pad portion is thicker than the remainder of the band and is formed integrally therewith. 
     
     
       12. A weeding tool according to claim 9 including a band positioning rib on the inner side face of the pad portion extending transverse to the lengthwise dimension of the band for reception between the index and middle fingers on the user's hand. 
     
     
       13. A weeding tool according to claim 12 wherein said band positioning rib is disposed in a plane intersecting said passage in the pad portion.